Shadow's Embrace
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction based on the universe of "Jujutsu Kaisen," created by Gege Akutami. The original manga, anime, and characters belong to their respective owners and creators.
Notes: This story unfolds in the Jujutsu world, set in a slightly altered universe where Sukuna inhabits his own vessel distinct from Itadori Yuji's body, making him a separate entity.
CHAPTER 3: Untamed Power
As you plummeted into darkness, memories began to flood your mind. Was this what they meant when they spoke of life flashing before your eyes as death approached?
Images of your parents surfaced—kind-hearted people, always burdened by their meager jobs, struggling to pay the rent. They loved you deeply, there was no doubt, yet the relentless demands of survival left little room for their daughter.
You had always believed the world to be unfair. Success seemed dictated by wealth or birthright rather than effort and kindness. Being born into riches or power appeared to guarantee succes, unlike the tireless toil of your parents who returned home each night, their faces etched with the fatigue of endless work.
You harbored no resentment toward them; they didn't choose to be born into such a harsh system. Yet, as a child, the longing for their presence gnawed at your heart, a constant ache that never quite went away.
After school, you would sit on the porch of your house, the hours stretching long as you waited for the familiar sound of your parents' car in the driveway. With a tree branch in hand, you traced intricate shapes and figures in the dry soil, losing yourself in the dusty canvas beneath your feet.
One fateful day, as you were engrossed in one of your drawings, a pair of feet suddenly intruded upon your freshly sketched picture. You looked up to see a girl your age with jet-black hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She deliberately shuffled her feet, further ruining your creation, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Whoopsie, my bad," she chuckled.
You shot her a nasty glare and were about to push her away when she extended her hand, a dazzling smile catching you off guard. "Nice to meet you! I'm Ayumi."
Surprised by her sudden friendly demeanor, you tentatively shook her hand. Her voice was gentle but carried a mocking undertone as she continued, "You always seem so lonely and sad… It's hard to look at, y'know?" She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then snapped her fingers as if struck by inspiration. "How about we go on an adventure, you and me?" she smirked.
The memory disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by that same darkness that enveloped you upon impact.
Gradually, you became more aware, feeling your heartbeat, hearing a low hum in the background. The dark fog seemed to lighten, and as it did, you blinked your eyes open, slowly adjusting to the light around you.
Your mind grappled with the hazy recollections of your previous encounter with Sukuna's curses. The details were blurred, like a nightmare slipping through your fingers, but the lingering sense of dread and exhaustion was all too real.
Carefully, you moved your hands, feeling the softness of a mattress beneath you. Your brow furrowed in confusion as you took in your surroundings – no longer the twisted, ominous domain of the King of Curses, but a sparse, industrial-looking room with concrete walls and floors.
A small window let in a faint sliver of light, and you felt a momentary sense of relief, until your gaze settled upon a figure to your right, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his eyes shut as if in meditation.
Your heart dropped as you recognized the unmistakable presence of Ryomen Sukuna. Panic began to well up within you, but you forced yourself to remain calm, to assess the situation as best you could.
Sukuna's eyes remained closed, and you couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of ploy.
As your gaze drifted downwards, you were surprised to find yourself covered in bandages. The sight of the wrappings sent a jolt of awareness through your body, and suddenly the pain that had been dulled by your unconsciousness came rushing back, throbbing and aching in intensity. You couldn't help but wince at the discomfort.
Caution and apprehension warred within you, your mind racing as you tried to discern Sukuna's intentions. Had he patched you up for a reason? Or was this merely a brief interlude before he resumed his torment?
Your gaze flickered between Sukuna's serene form and the bandages that covered your battered body.
At the slightest movement, the mattress beneath you creaked, the sound cutting through the tense silence. Your eyes immediately snapped towards Sukuna, apprehension coiling in your stomach.
To your surprise, the King of Curses did not open his eyes, but rather his brows furrowed in an expression of pure annoyance.
"Silence, brat" he spat, his voice sharp and commanding. "Can't you see I'm concentrating?"
Unnerved by the uncertainty of the situation and unsure of what to do next, you couldn't help but peer up at Sukuna, and then, your curiosity overriding your better judgment you asked; "Why… why did you bring me here?" your voice barely above a whisper. "And why did you—"
But the moment the words left your lips, Sukuna's eyes snapped open, his crimson gaze fixing you with a threatening, oppressive aura.
"Didn't I tell you to be silent?" he growled, Cursed energy seemed to emanate from his words, hitting you with a sharpness so intense that it sliced across your cheek. You felt the sting of the cut, blood trickling down to stain the sheets beneath you.
His eyes burned with a predatory light, his gaze intense. "You would do well to remember your place," he hissed.
Then he rose from his seated position, his white robe rustling as he brushed the creases from the fabric. To your surprise he went on to answer your previous question. "Is your stupid human brain so tiny that you've already forgotten?" he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.
Looming over you, his presence was oppressive and overwhelming. "Or did you think I brought you here out of the goodness of my heart?" he scoffed.
Sukuna's expression darkened as he reminded you of his twisted plans – to use you as a pawn, to bind you to him through a contract that would force you to obey his every command.
"I have a grand design in motion, little sorcerer," he growled, his eyes narrowing. "And you, will be an integral part of it, whether you like it or not. "
Sukuna's gaze bore into you, as if trying to read your every thought "And by the looks of it, it seems like I haven't broken that sorry excuse of a spirit yet,"
His lips curled Into a sadistic grin, as he sneered "So the following days will be, well, more than a little unpleasant for you, darling,"
Sukuna was toying with you. He had no intention of simply using you as a pawn – he sought to break you, to shatter your very will until you were nothing more than a docile, obedient servant.
Sukuna's gaze lingered on you for a moment longer. Then, with a dismissive glance, he turned his back to you, his white robes swaying with the movement.
"Oh, and the reason I patched you up?" he purred, his voice dripping with malicious intent. "It's so I can break you all over again."
The implication of his words sent a shiver of dread down your spine, but you refused to let him see your fear. Taking a deep breath, you steadied yourself, willing your body to stop shaking.
Sukuna then walked off, disappearing around a corner. You listened intently, hearing his footsteps ascend a flight of stairs. Followed by the sound of a lock clicking into place.
Glancing around the room, you noted the the small window again. It was positioned very high on the wall, so you deduced that you must be in a basement of sorts.
You carefully paced along the cold, concrete walls, your fingers trailing against the rough surface. Until you were met with the unsettling sensation of an invisible force— Sukuna must have set up an energy barrier, you thought to yourself.
He had essentially trapped you, and the sense of helplessness that evoked angered you beyond words, igniting a spark of determination within.
Refusing to simply lie down and accept your fate was not an option, not when you possessed the power to fight back.
You thought hard about all your possibilities. Could you try to break out? No, the barrier's strength was palpable, an impenetrable wall of cursed energy. Setting a trap for Sukuna seemed equally futile. The room was barren, save for a worn-out sofa, a coffee table, and a mattress. Your eyes roamed over these items, seeking any potential use, but they offered no immediate solution.
What did you have available right now? You asked yourself, frustration mounting. Then it dawned on you—your cursed energy. The one constant, the one weapon always at your disposal. If you could practice and refine your skills, perhaps you could tip the scales in your favor.
Wincing through the pain, you planted your feet firmly on the ground. With focused determination, you channeled the bottled-up emotions—anger, pain, and fear—that surged through you. You tensed every muscle, every fiber of your being, as if trying to squeeze out all the power within you.
Suddenly, a bolt of cursed energy erupted from your palms, blasting towards the barrier that Sukuna had erected. But the energy was uncontrolled, and the blast ricocheted off the barrier, shooting back towards you.
You barely managed to duck in time, the stray energy crackling over your head.
"Shit," you muttered under your breath.
Despite your best efforts, your power remained erratic and unruly, refusing to bend to your will. Time and time again, you tried to channel your energy, only to be met with the same result – blasts that careened out of control, sometimes striking you, other times slamming into the walls and furniture, leaving the room in shambles.
Surveying the chaos, a wave of despair washed over you. Your cursed energy, your sole potential weapon, proved as unruly and capricious as ever.
After what felt like hours of relentless, fruitless attempts, your body was pushed to the brink of exhaustion. Battered and injured, both by Sukuna's previous attacks and your own uncontrolled bursts of cursed energy, you were nearing the edge of your limits.
Yet, summoning the last of your resolve, you forced your body to center itself, pouring every ounce of your remaining strength into one final attempt, setting the door as your target.
A bolt of cursed energy erupted from your palms, spiraling towards its mark in an unexpectedly straight line– and just as you felt a glimmer of hope, the door swung open, revealing the imposing figure of Ryomen Sukuna.
To your dismay, Sukuna effortlessly ducked the attack, his lightning-fast reflexes easily evading your strike. A low, rumbling chuckle escaped his lips as he regarded you with a mixture of amusement and disdain.
Sukuna's crimson eyes swept over the havoc you had wreaked in the room, a twisted smile forming on his face "Well, well, you've made quite the mess, little sorcerer,"
Slowly, deliberately, he approached you, his movements predatory and graceful like a stalking beast. You instinctively took a step back, your body recoiling as he invaded your personal space.
"What's the matter?" Sukuna taunted, his voice a silky whisper that sent a chill down your spine.
Then his hand shot out, seizing your wrist with a tight grip. You tensed, expecting another cruel assault, but to your surprise, he merely traced his fingers along the lines of your palm, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"Do it again," he commanded, his voice low and authoritative. "Channel your cursed energy through your hands."
Hesitantly, still wary of his intentions, you complied, focusing your concentration and allowing the familiar surge of power to build within you.
As you channeled your cursed energy, Sukuna's gaze locked onto yours, his crimson eyes piercing through you with an unsettling intensity.
"Stop," he commanded, his voice firm. "See what you're doing? Your whole body is like a coiled spring."
Sukuna's fingers tapped against your forehead, drawing your attention. "You have to stop trying to physically force it out. Instead feel the flow, guide it with calm intent."
His words, surprisingly devoid of their usual malice, made you pause. Sukuna was observing your technique, offering a critique, and you couldn't help but feel a glimmer of intrigue at this unexpected shift in his demeanor.
"Now try it again," he instructed, his voice low and measured. "Relax your entire body and direct all your focus towards the sensation of your cursed energy, gently guiding it towards your hands."
As he spoke, his finger traced a path from your forehead, down the length of your arm, until it came to rest upon your palm. The delicate touch sent a shiver through you, and you found yourself instinctively following his guidance.
Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath, allowing the tension to bleed from your muscles. Focusing inward, you could feel the familiar hum of your cursed energy, a power that had always felt sloppy and uncontrolled. But this time, instead of trying to force it out, you gently coaxed it, guiding it towards your palm.
A small bolt of cursed energy began to form in your hand. Unlike your previous uncontrolled bursts, this one felt different – powerful, yet tamed, no longer wild and erratic.
The energy crackled and pulsed in your hand, contained and harnessed, rather than exploding outwards. A sense of wonder and accomplishment washed over you, a glimmer of hope.
Your gaze flicked up to Sukuna, a silent question in your eyes, as if seeking his approval or acknowledgment of your progress.
But the moment of wonder was fleeting, as Sukuna's expression quickly shifted back to his usual cold, demeanor. He let out a derisive scoff.
"Pathetic," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "You call yourself a sorcerer, and yet you don't even know the most basic principles of jujutsu?"
Sukuna turned his back on you, striding towards the door. Reaching down, he retrieved a plastic bag that had been set aside, and from it, he pulled out a loaf of bread and a large bottle of water.
With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he tossed the provisions at your feet, ensuring that you would have to bend down and exert yourself to retrieve them.
The gesture was a blatant display of his power and control over you, a subtle reminder of your captive status.
Despite this, a small smile tugged at the edge of your lips. Today, you had grown stronger. And one day, you vowed silently, you would be strong enough to bring him to his knees.
Thank you for reading. The following chapter will be uploaded soon!